Breadcrumb

1. Home

2. Print 

3. Pdf 

4. Node 

5. Entity Print 

Crop Biosecurity and Emergency

Management

Last Modified: 

Print

APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program safeguards U.S. agriculture

and natural resources from the introduction, establishment, and spread of plant

pests and noxious weeds.

Emergency Response and Management

As the lead Federal agency for plant health emergencies, PPQ works cooperatively

with national and international plant protection organizations; Federal, State, Tribal,

and local agencies; universities; industries; and private entities in developing and

implementing science-based framework designed to provide optimum protection

against invasive pests and diseases.

National Plant Health Emergency Framework 

(PDF, 756.3 KB)

The National Plant Health Emergency Management Framework describes how PPQ

and its cooperators respond to plant health and homeland security emergencies. It

covers the roles and responsibilities of PPQ program managers at the national,

regional, and State levels, Science and Technology, State and Territory plant
protection agencies, and Tribes. The framework also describes the components of

PPQ's safeguarding system, including preparedness, pest exclusion, response, and

recovery elements.

Emergency Response Manual 

(PDF, 2.36 MB)

The Emergency Response Manual provides guidance to emergency responders when

following the Incident Command System (ICS) to manage a threat to plant health

and natural resources. The manual describes how ICS is used to develop and

organize a response; instructions for assigning specific responsibilities within the

Command and General staff; pertinent authorities related to plant health

emergencies; and lists of necessary activities for onsite incident management.

Pest Exclusion 

PPQ works with trading partners and international plant protection organizations to

develop and implement early detection and control strategies designed to prevent

the entry of invasive pests and diseases into the United States. In addition, PPQ

partners with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Customs and

Border Protection (CBP) to ensure the continued success of agricultural inspection

operations at all U.S. ports of entry. 

Plant and Plant Product Imports 

Want to bring plants or plant products into the United States? Learn about APHIS

regulations so you can import your products safely and legally.

International Services 

International Services, the overseas arm of USDA-APHIS, operates in over 25

countries around the world to keep agriculture healthy and trade markets open.

Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey 

The Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program's mission is to conduct

exotic plant pest surveys through a national network of cooperators and

stakeholders to protect American agriculture and natural resources.
Preparedness 

PPQ works with Federal agencies, State and local governments, and industries to

prepare, build, and sustain operational capacity and capability including early

detection, timely diagnostics, and effective control strategies against plant health

threats and incursions. 

Pest Identification 

The National Identification Services (NIS) coordinates and provides national-level

identifications of plant pests in support of USDA's regulatory programs.

National Plant Diagnostic Network 

The National Plant Diagnostic Network is a consortium of diagnostic labs in all U.S.

States and Territories protecting national plant health with a distributed ability to

provide timely quality diagnostics of plant pests and pathogens.

Response 

PPQ works with Federal agencies, State, Tribes, and local governments, and

industries to implement coordinated actions designed to contain, control, or

eradicate plant pests and diseases. PPQ uses the Incident Command System (ICS),

which provides responding agencies and entities a unified strategy for working

together in response to plant health emergencies.

State Departments of Agriculture 

Environmental Compliance 

The Environmental Compliance Team supports the Agency's pest and disease

control programs by coordinating program compliance with environmental laws,

regulations, policies, and guidance.

Recovery

After an emergency response is complete, PPQ works with Federal agencies; State,

Tribal, and local governments; and the private sector to develop and implement
systems designed to provide long-term stability and protection from the pest or

disease that caused the emergency. Recovery includes plant health regulations,

eradication, best management practices, and restoration plans.

National Plant Disease Recovery System 

USDA Agriculture Research Service 

USDA Risk Management Agency